The worlds olio written by the Right Honorable, the Lady Margaret Newcastle.

About this Item

Title
The worlds olio written by the Right Honorable, the Lady Margaret Newcastle.
Author
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of, 1624?-1674.
Publication
London :: Printed for J. Martin and J. Allestrye ...,
1655.
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Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A53065.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The worlds olio written by the Right Honorable, the Lady Margaret Newcastle." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A53065.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 19, 2024.

Pages

Of the Senses and Brain.

SOme say that there is such a nature in man, that he would conceive and understand without the senses, though not so clearly, if he had but life which is motion Others say, there is nothing in the understanding, that is not sirst in the senses, which is more probable, for the senses bring all the mate∣rials into the brain, and then the brain cuts and divides them, and gives them quite other forms, then the senses many times presented them; for of one object the brain makes thousands of several figures, and these figures are those things which are called imagination, conception, opinion, under standing, and knowledge, which are the Children of the brain, these put in∣to

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action, are called arts and sciences, and every one of these have a particular and proper motion, function, or trade, as the imagination, and conception, builds, squares, inlayes, grinds, moulds, and fashions all, opinion, caries shows, and presents the materials to the conception, and imagination; understanding distinguishes the several parcels, and puts them in right places, knowledge is to make the proper use of them, and when the brain works upon her own materials, and at home, it is called poetry and invention, but when the brain receives and words journey-work, which is not of its own materials, then it is cal∣led learning, and imitation, but opinion makes great faction and disorder among them, disagreeing much with the understand∣ing, in presenting and bringing the wrong for the right, and many times with clamour and obstinacy carries it, especially when a strange opinion out of another brain, comes and joyns with the other, & the brain many times is so taken with his neigh∣bour brains figures, that he fills up his house so full of them, that he leaves no roome for his own to work or abide in: but some brains are so weak as they have few or no figures of their own, but onely plain pieces, and some again so slow of motion, and so lazy, as they will not take paines to cut and to carve, or to try, but lets that which the senses bring in lie like bags or stone, and makes no use of them, and will furnish his head neither with his own nor others; but the brain is like unto Common-wealths, for some brains that are well tempe∣red, are like those Common-wealths, that are justly and peace∣ably governed, and live in their own bounds: other braines that are hotly tempered, are like those common-wealths that make wars upon their neighbours; others again that are un∣evenly tempered, are like those that are incombred with civil wars amongst themselves; a cold brain is like those Nations that are so lazy, as they will use no industry to the improving of their Country, so a brain may be compared to several soyls, as some are rich in mines and quarries, others pleasant and fruit∣ful, some brains are barren and insipid some will be improved with change of tillage or working, others, the more it is used, the better it is, and some the worse; and though accidents give the grounds to some arts, yet they are but rude and uneasy, until the brain hath polished and fitted them, for as the senses give the brain the first matter, so the brain sends that matter formed & sigured to the senses again, to be dispersed abroad, which some∣times is sent by the understanding, sometimes by opinions, so he that hath his senses most imployed and perfectest, knows more then they that have not their senses exercised in varicties, yet the senses give not the height of knowledge, unlesse the brain be of such a temper to dispose them; for the brains are like eyes, where some are so quick, as they cannot fasten up∣on an object, to view the perfection of it, others, so dull, they can∣not see clearly, or so slow they cannot untie themselves soon

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enough, but dwels too long upon it, so it is the discussing of the object well, that increases or begets knowledge.

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